The Portland daily press., 1887-04-23
.Mhere was vonr mother?"

spinning, ana she ) Dau lo-uNy' ShS TO-
''And was there nobody to look after the
baby but you?"
''No. COS the lady who lies in the next
room she's gone away, and the baby cried
so as took it and sat on the doorstep till
mother come in, and then it didn't stop. Fa-
ther said he'd chuck it out O. window if
mother didn't quiet it's row.
The boy spoke in quiet, matter-of- fact
tome Why not? He was used to his life
such scenes were of daily occurrence, and if
the previous nights experiences had been
trife worse than usual, there was one com
fort to be derived from them-his mother was
too i'll to get drunk that day, at least
'You may go to your place." said the
teacher, quietly. liam going to give out the
sums. Annie Blake, what are you crying
for?"
The little girl addressed youchsafed no re-
ply, but after little hesitation the child who
occupied the next seat volunteered the in
formation that Annie Blake felt sick.
Miss Burton called the little girl to her
side. what is the matter, Annie? Have
you had anything to disagree with your"
The child shook her head. She was very
clean and tidily dressed, though in wofully
patched garments.
what did you have for breakfast"
Nothing, teacher" said the little girl,
looking up with timid eyes. mother couldn't
give us any this morning, because all the
bread was gone"
is your father out of work?'
Yes, teacher, he's got bad foot"
Miss Burton led the child into the head
mistress's private room and gave her roll
out of the bag that contained her own lunch.
''Sit down and eat that, and if l can manage
it, will go round and see your mother after
school,"
The teachers heart ached as she returned
to the school room. 1t was horrible to think
of child, little more than baby, sent
breakfastless to school.
She knew well the extreme restitution
there was among mauy of the children, for
the school was situated in very poor neigh
borhood. She did what little she Guild to re-
lieve the most pressing cases in her own
room, but it was only drop of kindness in
an ocean of distress. Many parcel Of old
boots she collected among her friends and
distributed to the children, but there were
some to whom it was worse than useless to-
giVe-the children of idle, depraved parents,
who would strip every article of apparel off
their own and their children's backs and
pawn them for few pence, to obtain what
was more than decency or natural affection
to them-drink.
The teacher did her best even in these
cases.
Now, Mary" she would say, fastening
warm petticoat on little girl, ''tell your
mother if you come to school without this
tomorrow that | shall send you back. You
are to wear it every day." Occasionally the
hint had the desired effect, but not often.
Returning to the school room, Miss Burton
stood still for moment at the open door,
The children had taken advantage of her
temporary absence to vacate their places,
and were amusing themselves in various
ways. And worse than all, at the other
door, leading from the main corridor stood
the inspector, the man whom they all dread
ed because of his influence in high quarters,
and because of his cold calculating nature,
which regarded the maintenance of disci-
pline as the first law of the universe There
he stood, his light, inquiring eyes calmly
taking in the whole scene.
Good morning, Miss Burton. I'm afraid
my call is rather inopportune May ask,
do the children often disport themselves in
this manner?"
Miss Burton colored at the sarcastic tone,
but replied quietly;
1T is very unusual. / had occasion to
cake child away who felt i'll, and am
sorry to see that the others have behaved
badly during my absence"
'Huml Perhaps it would have been bet
ter if you had sent monitor, instead of
leaving the room yourself. Kindly place the
children; wish to examine them. That is
right. Now children, attention! Watt Do
l see boy asleep?"
Miss Burton once more reused Tommy
Carter, at the same time endeavoring to ex-
plain soto coce to the Inspector the reason
of the little fellows fatigue.
Eyes, yes" he said in his lofty, but polite
voice; zone hears so many of these kinds of
stories generally excuses for idleness, you
know
"But believe, / am almost positive, this
boys story is correct, for his parents are
| both"
"Parden me, but l should never get
through my duties if [ stayed to listen to all
the stories the children bring. The way to
do the work in a place of this kind is to go
straight on, regardless of obstacles, and,
above everything, to discountenance chat
ter"
"But we are bound. in fairness. to listen to
any reasons the children may have to ae-
count for their absence, late arrival, etc., /"
objected the teacher, with shade of warmth.
otherwise should have punished little
girl just now for crying, because she had
had no faod since yesterday"
81 am really afraid. Miss Burton" said
Mr.. CHILDHOOD, impressiyely, shat you are a
little too sensitive for your post. Think of
the cause in which you are enrolled as one
| of the workers-the education of the masses,
a truly noble work. Do not pray you,
sharpen your feelings on the woes, real or
imaginary, of individual cases."
But" said the teacher bravely, sit is
with individual cases one must deal How
can compel a child to work whose eyes are
heavy and limbs weary for want of rest and
| proper nourishment? What can one expect
from tthe exhausted systems of these ba-
bies?"
Madam, you know the schedule. 1t was
arranged with a proper knowledge Of
what can be and is done by children under
seven"
"Yes, but is it right to expect so much
| from these ill-fed, ill-clothed and, in many
cases, diseased children? Many of then
bring their dinners to school. You should
see what is provided for them. / would ven
ture to assert that in this room there are
| twenty children with the same fare to-day
| a thick slice of bread, with disgusting
looking black compound they call dripping
but which more resembles cart grease.
have frequently seen the delicate ones turr
with almost loathing from this-their custo
mary midday meal"
''Very sad, of couse; but because a child
has not proper food is no argument why i
should also remain ignorant"
"Will you allow me to ask you one ques
ton, Mr.. Chilblud? Wouldi you force you
own children, who have every advantage, t
do what is required by the school boaid?"
The inspector looked at this daring teach
er much as one regards an impudent menia
who has the effrontery to dictate to a super
or.